From 'I Hate Math' to 'Can We Do More?' Our 6-Month Soroban Transformation
Six months ago, my daughter cried every single night over math homework. Last week, she asked to skip TV to practice Soroban. Here's the detailed journey of how we went from math nightmares to genuine enthusiasm.
I'm writing this at 8:47 PM on a Tuesday night. My 8-year-old daughter Emma just asked if she could stay up 10 more minutes to 'finish this level' on her Soroban app. Six months ago at this exact time, I was physically holding her hand while she sobbed through addition problems. I never imagined we'd get here. If your child hates math—truly hates it, with tears and anxiety and 'I can't do it' before even looking at the problem—I want you to know that transformation is possible. Here's exactly how it happened for us.
Where We Started: The Math Nightmare Era
Emma was 7 and in 2nd grade when things hit rock bottom. I need you to understand how bad it was, because I don't want to sugarcoat this journey.
The Daily Homework Battle
Every single day, around 4 PM, Emma's mood would shift. She knew homework was coming. By 4:30, when we sat down at the kitchen table, the resistance started.
- •'I can't do it' – Before looking at the worksheet
- •Pencil twirling – Anything to avoid starting
- •Random guessing – Just to fill in answers and be done
- •Tears – Almost every day by problem 5 or 6
- •Meltdowns – At least twice a week, full crying fits
What should have been 15 minutes of homework turned into 45-60 minutes of emotional exhaustion—for both of us.
The Physical Symptoms
The worst part was watching anxiety take physical form. On test days, Emma complained of:
- •Stomach aches that were definitely real
- •Headaches that mysteriously appeared before school
- •'Feeling sick' specifically on math test mornings
- •Trouble sleeping the night before
At 7 years old, my daughter had developed genuine math anxiety with physical manifestations. That broke me.
The 'I'm Not a Math Person' Belief
What scared me most was the identity she was building around it. She'd say things like:
- •'I'm just not good at math'
- •'Math isn't for me'
- •'Some people's brains don't work for math' (where did she even hear this?)
- •'I'll never be able to do this'
A second grader had already given up. She'd decided she couldn't do math, and every homework session reinforced that belief.
I remember one night she looked at me with tears streaming down her face and said, 'Mommy, why did God make my brain wrong for math?' I had to leave the room so she wouldn't see me cry.
Everything I Tried (That Didn't Work)
Before Soroban, I tried everything:
- •Rewards and bribes – Short-term motivation, didn't address the underlying problem
- •More practice worksheets – Made things worse, actually
- •Private tutoring – $50/hour to do more of the same thing that wasn't working
- •'Fun' math games – She saw through them immediately
- •Flash cards – Turned into another source of failure feelings
- •Emotional support – Important, but didn't build actual skills
- •Talking to her teacher – Helpful advice, but nothing changed at home
I was running out of options and honestly considering just... accepting that math would always be hard for her.
How We Found Soroban
I almost scrolled past the post. A mom in my local parenting Facebook group mentioned that her daughter's math confidence had 'completely transformed' after starting something called Soroban.
I messaged her privately, expecting another failed solution. But she said something that stuck with me: 'It's not more of the same. It's a completely different way of seeing numbers.'
Different. That word gave me hope. Everything else had been more of the same approach that wasn't working.
I researched Soroban that night. A Japanese abacus. Visual. Tactile. Gamified apps. I was skeptical, but at this point, what did we have to lose?
Month 1: The Surprise Beginning
I downloaded the Sorokid app, fully expecting Emma to hate it. More math, right? Why would she want that?
I didn't tell her it was 'math.' I said, 'There's this cool Japanese bead game I found. Want to try it?'
She was suspicious, but curious.
The first lesson was so simple—just learning what the beads represent. She got it right on the first try. The app celebrated with sounds and animations. She smiled.
I don't think she'd smiled during anything math-related in months.
Week 1: Cautious Optimism
- •She asked to try again the next day (unprompted!)
- •10 minutes of practice, no resistance
- •Problems were easy enough that she felt successful
- •Moving the beads felt like playing, not working
- •She earned points and rewards, which she loved
Week 2-4: Building Momentum
- •Increased to 15 minutes daily without complaint
- •Started saying 'I got it right!' instead of 'I can't'
- •Asked to show her dad what she learned
- •Homework was still hard, but Soroban time was... fun?
The key in Month 1: The app's difficulty progression was perfectly calibrated. She was challenged just enough to learn, but succeeded enough to feel capable. This was the opposite of her school math experience.
Month 2: The First Signs of Transfer
Something subtle started happening. During regular homework (not Soroban), Emma paused on an addition problem and... moved her fingers. Not counting on them—moving them like she was manipulating invisible beads.
She got the answer right.
I didn't say anything, but my heart was pounding. Was this actually working?
Other Month 2 Observations
- •Homework battles decreased from daily to 3-4 times per week
- •She started saying 'Let me think' instead of 'I can't'
- •'This one's easy!' appeared for the first time
- •Soroban practice became non-negotiable routine (her request!)
- •Started competing with herself to beat previous scores
Month 3-4: The Confidence Shift
This was when things really changed. Not just in math ability, but in how Emma saw herself.
The Defining Moment
Emma's class was doing addition practice, and the teacher asked for volunteers to solve problems on the board. According to Emma, she raised her hand.
She raised her hand. For math. Voluntarily.
I asked her what happened. She said, 'I knew I could do it, so I wanted to.'
I had to sit down.
The Identity Shift
Remember those 'I'm not a math person' statements? They started disappearing. Instead, I heard:
- •'I'm getting pretty good at this'
- •'I can figure it out'
- •'Let me try before you help'
- •'Math is okay, actually'
She wasn't saying 'I love math' yet. But 'Math is okay' from a kid who said 'I hate math' every day? That's massive.
Progress Tracker
- •Simple addition became automatic (no finger counting)
- •Started attempting subtraction problems independently
- •Homework battles down to 1-2 times per week
- •Test anxiety reduced (still present, but manageable)
- •Soroban practice extended to 20 minutes by her choice
Month 5-6: The Transformation I Didn't Expect
The last two months brought changes I never imagined possible.
The Grocery Store Moment
We were shopping, and I was mentally adding items to stay on budget. Emma asked what I was doing. I explained.
'I can help!' she said. Then she started adding the prices as we shopped. Out loud. For fun.
My child who cried over addition homework was voluntarily doing mental math at the grocery store.
Teaching Others
Her cousin visited, and Emma insisted on showing him Soroban. 'Let me teach you,' she said. She explained the beads, demonstrated problems, and encouraged him when he got stuck.
Teaching. The child who believed her brain was 'wrong for math' was teaching someone else.
The TV Request
Last week, it was TV time. Her favorite show was on. She asked if she could skip TV to finish a Soroban level first.
I made her repeat it because I thought I'd misheard.
When your child chooses math practice over TV, you know something fundamental has changed. This isn't about grades anymore—it's about who she believes she is.
The Results: By the Numbers
For those who want concrete data:
Before Soroban
- •Math grade: C (sometimes C-)
- •Homework time: 45-60 minutes with battles
- •Crying during math: 4-5 times per week
- •Test anxiety: Severe (physical symptoms)
- •Math self-image: 'I can't do math'
After 6 Months of Soroban
- •Math grade: B+ (heading toward A)
- •Homework time: 15-20 minutes, rarely with battles
- •Crying during math: Maybe once every 2-3 weeks (and it's brief)
- •Test anxiety: Present but manageable (no physical symptoms)
- •Math self-image: 'I'm pretty good at math'
What Made the Difference: My Analysis
Looking back, here's what I think worked:
1. A Fresh Start
Soroban wasn't connected to her history of failure. It was new. Clean. No bad memories attached. She could approach it without the weight of past struggles.
2. Different Approach for a Different Brain
Emma is a visual learner. Traditional math is abstract—numbers on a page. Soroban gave her something to SEE and MOVE. The beads made numbers concrete in a way she needed.
3. Success Before Challenge
The app started easy. Really easy. Emma needed to succeed before being challenged. Every early win rebuilt her broken confidence.
4. Gamification That Worked
Points, levels, rewards—these weren't gimmicks. They gave Emma immediate feedback and motivation. She wanted to 'win,' not just 'learn.'
5. Short Sessions, Every Day
15 minutes was doable. It wasn't overwhelming. And daily practice built the habit without burnout. Consistency over intensity.
6. Separation from Homework
Soroban was never 'homework.' It was her special thing. Not school. Not required. Chosen. This psychological separation mattered enormously.
Advice for Parents Starting This Journey
If your child hates math like Emma did, here's what I'd tell you:
- •Don't call it 'math practice.' Present it as something new and different.
- •Start during a calm time. Not right after a homework meltdown.
- •Celebrate everything. Every correct answer matters early on.
- •Don't push too hard. 10-15 minutes is enough. Stop while they're still enjoying it.
- •Be patient. Real change took us months, not weeks.
- •Don't connect it to grades. This is about confidence, not school performance (grades will follow).
- •Sit nearby but don't teach. Let the app do the instruction. You do the encouragement.
- •Handle resistance gently. Some days will be hard. Shorten, don't skip.
Where We Are Now
Emma still isn't a 'math genius.' She still struggles with some concepts. Word problems are hard. Fractions will probably be a challenge when she gets there.
But here's what's different: She believes she CAN figure things out. She's willing to try. She doesn't cry before starting. She doesn't think her brain is broken.
That mindset shift—from 'I can't' to 'Let me try'—is worth more than any grade.
If your child hates math, please know: This doesn't have to be permanent. The right approach, introduced at the right time, with patience and consistency, can transform everything. Emma is proof. And if it worked for a kid who literally cried every day over math, it can work for yours too.
If your child is where Emma was 6 months ago—crying over math, believing they 'can't do it'—please know transformation is possible. Start with a free trial and see if this different approach resonates with your child.
Start Your Free 7-Day Trial